Fall officially starts this Saturday, Sept. 22, and the Albany downtown area will soon be dressed for the autumn season.

The Albany Chamber of Commerce is heading up the fall decorating project that has attracted a considerable amount of drive-by attention the last few years and is expected to do so again this fall.

“We are going to start decorating at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22,” said Chamber treasurer Lisa Barton. “Anybody willing to help is more than welcome to join us.”

The fourth annual Ft. Griffin BBQ Cook-Off is set to take place in downtown Albany the last weekend in September, and among the 20 or more teams that have paid the $150 registration fee to enter the event are some well-seasoned local veterans that took home prize money last year.

More entries are expected to enter the “Battle for the Blade and World Championship Dove Competition” as the event, which is sanctioned by the International Barbeque Cookers Association, approaches.

Coach Denney Faith and his Albany Lions find themselves in unfamiliar territory with a 0-3 start to the 2018 season.

However, Faith isn’t in panic mode. In fact, despite the losses, he says he feels good about where his team is after playing three powerful 3A opponents.

The Lions will travel to Hawley this week to face the Bearcats, a 2A Div. I team with a 2-1 record that includes wins over Bangs and Roscoe. The team’s lone loss was to Hamlin last week, 32-6.

Kickoff in Hawley is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Lady Lion volleyball squad is off to a slow start in district after suffering a pair of losses last week to drop to 1-2 in league action.

The teams were off earlier this week with a bye, but the varsity will host Moran on Saturday, Sept. 22 in a 10:00 a.m. game.

Albany will be on the road Tuesday, Sept. 25 with a set of games in Woodson. A junior high game will start the action at 4:00 p.m., followed by one JV game at 5:00 p.m. The varsity will take the floor at 6:15 p.m.

Close Loss to Newcastle

The team of Justin Noble, Tyler Driskill, Josh Robinette, and Jeff Wilkerson won the Albany Kiwanis Charity Golf Tournament last Friday with a score of 57 strokes.

The 11th annual John Rose and Jim Law Memorial Tournament was held at the Albany Golf Club on Friday, Sept. 14.

“It was perfect golf weather,” said coordinator Steve Waller. “We had a big crowd and a good lunch! Fifteen teams competed in the tournament for the first, second, and third prizes.”

The Albany Cubs hosted Eastland last Thursday, with the eighth graders picking up a win and the seventh grade game ending in a tie.

Albany will be at home again this Thursday (today) hosting Hawley. The seventh grade game will start at 4:30 p.m. followed by the eighth graders at 5:30 p.m. The JV Lions will host the Bearcats at about 6:45 p.m.

Game Details

The eighth grade Cubs defeated Eastland 28-8 last week.

McMurry University inducted former Albany resident Rory Peacock and seven others into its Athletics Hall of Honor on Sept. 8 in a ceremony held in the Garrison Campus Center Mabee Room. 

“The induction cere-mony was a great experience that I was able to share with former teammates, coaches, friends, and family members,” said Peacock. “Getting to share the stage with some of the best to walk the halls at McMurry, including Coach Barbara Crousen and Coach Grant Teaff, was truly humbling.”

The City of Moran Volunteer Fire Department will have a “fill the boot” drive this Saturday, Sept. 22 starting at 9:00 a.m. at the intersection of Hwy. 6 and FM 576 (next to the Red Barn).

“This will be the first boot drive we’ve been able to do in years,” said organizer Michelle Taggart. “Any donation made to the department is greatly appreciated!”

The Moran VFD will also host a “Fall Fun in the Park” on Saturday, Oct. 20. 

There are only a few hours left to register a sale location in the 25th Annual Community Wide Garage Sale scheduled for this Saturday in Albany.

“Come in and get signed up to participate,” said Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones on Tuesday morning. “We’ve already had a few come in, and I’m expecting it to get even busier as it gets closer to the deadline on Thursday.”

To register, participants should go by the Albany Visitors Center before 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, to fill out a form and pay the fees, as well as pick up a yard sign. 

There are only a few hours left to register a sale location in the 25th Annual Community Wide Garage Sale scheduled for this Saturday in Albany.

“Come in and get signed up to participate,” said Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones on Tuesday morning. “We’ve already had a few come in, and I’m expecting it to get even busier as it gets closer to the deadline on Thursday.”

To register, participants should go by the Albany Visitors Center before 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, to fill out a form and pay the fees, as well as pick up a yard sign.